Pressure on Brazilian president as unrest spreads

Updated
June 22, 2013 09:48:00

Brazil's president is coming under increasing pressure after two weeks of massive protests from a population fed up with the billions of dollars being spent on the World Cup and the Olympics. In the latest demonstrations around a million people took to the streets across the country. At least two people have been reportedly killed.

ELIZABETH JACKSON: Brazil's president is coming under increasing pressure after two weeks of massive protests and a population fed up with the billions of dollars being spent on the World Cup and the Olympics.

In the latest demonstrations, around a million people took to the streets across the country.

They clashed with police in protests that had, up until now, been relatively peaceful.

At least two people have been reportedly killed.

Here's our North America correspondent Lisa Millar reports.

LISA MILLAR: As Friday dawned in Brazil, some cities were still smouldering from the overnight violence.

(Large crowd chanting)

It began with anger over a hike in public transport fares but within a week escalated dramatically.

PROTESTER 1 (translation): It's really exciting to see the people on the streets demanding their rights.

The people have woken up.

PROTESTER 2 (translation): We came because we want to have better hospitals here in Brazil. Hospitals here are in awful condition. What people in Brazil need are good hospitals and quality care.

LISA MILLAR: They're angry about high taxes, inflation, corruption and poor public services

But mostly it's about the money being spent on preparations for the two biggest sporting events in the world - the World Cup and the Olympics.

Tens of billions of dollars are going into stadiums and other venues, as well as airport renovations.

Right now in this football-mad country, the Confederations Cup is underway.

It's considered a test event ahead of next year but has become a target for the angry protesters.

FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) spokesman Pekka Odiozola says they haven't considered cancelling, and none of the eight teams have asked to leave.

PEKKA ODIOZOLA: We support and we acknowledge the right of free speech and the right to demonstrate peacefully. We condemn any form of violence. We are in constant contact with the local authorities and have full trust in the security arrangements in place.

We will continue to monitor the situation.

At no stage, and I repeat at no stage, has FIFA, the Local Organising Committee nor the federal government discussed or considered to cancel the FIFA Confederations Cup.

LISA MILLAR: Until now there'd been little response from president Dilma Rousseff.

The transport price increase has been cancelled and other concessions have been made.

Earlier today, she cancelled plans and instead held emergency meetings with top aides.

There are growing calls on social media for a general strike next week.

One of the protesters, a vet, Deise Alberto, says the first phase has begun.

"People taking to the street shows that we are not a population simply conforming, but things appear to be getting out of control", she says.

Preparation for the World Cup has been slow; construction of most of the 12 stadiums has been late and over budget.

The growing public fury about what's ahead for Brazil is unlikely to dissipate quickly.